Chelsea take on Porto in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals this week and they will be hoping to book their place in the next round of the competition with a positive result.
Venue: Roman Sanchez Pizjuan
Key Statistics
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in 7 of their last 9 matches (Champions League).
Chelsea have won 7 of their last 8 matches (Champions League).
Chelsea have won their last 4 home matches against Porto in all competitions.
Chelsea
Chelsea picked up a 2-0 win in the first leg thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell.
The Blues will be firm favourites heading into the second leg and they should be able to book their place in the semi-finals.
Chelsea are coming into this game on the back of an impressive win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League and they will be full of confidence.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have been quite impressive at the back in recent weeks and Porto will find it difficult to overturn the 2-0 deficit here.
The Blues have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last nine Champions League games.
Furthermore, they have an impressive head to head record against this week’s opposition as well and they have beaten Porto four times in their last four home matches.
Possible Chelsea starting line-ups
Edouard Mendy; Cesar Azpilicueta, Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger; Reece James, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell; Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech; Timo Werner
Doubtful: Christensen (hamstring), Thiago Silva (match fitness)
Misses next match if booked: Mateo Kovacic, Ziyech
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Willy Caballero, Kurt Zouma, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud, Mason, Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Reece, James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kai Havertz, Emerson
23 Member Chelsea squad listed in squad number order
We have to accept against Porto that the game will be up and down. In some instances [in the first leg] we controlled the match, created half chances, good counter-pressing but then in some minutes they escaped the pressure. Sometimes they overload sides and give you a lot of questions. In the first leg we experienced ups and downs, then the momentum shifted, this is what you have to accept against them…
We don’t approach games like this or change the approach. For us it is important that we focus on us, play the best game possible as this increases the chances to have a result. In terms of a result, it is easier for Porto because they need to score three goals to get through, for them if it is clear. For us, if we start in this way then we could completely lose our heads. I hope we embrace the challenge and feel it…
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea Manager
FC Porto
Meanwhile, Porto will be looking to salvage some pride here and it will be interesting to see if they can secure a win.
The Portuguese outfit have lost two of their last seven matches and the last time they managed to beat Chelsea was back in 2015.
This will be an uphill challenge for them and the return of Mehdi Taremi and Sergio Oliveira will be a welcome boost for the visitors.
Possible Porto starting line-ups
Agustin Marchesin; Wilson Manafa, Pepe, Diogo Leite, Zaidu Sanusi; Jesus Corona, Sergio Oliviera, Matues Uribe, Luis Diaz; Mehdi Taremi, Toni Martinez
Misses next match if booked: Mbemba
We have to be a compact, cohesive team. We have to score goals, but also to avoid conceding. We were good in the first leg, but not very good; if we were, we would have won. We will try to improve on what was a good team performance.
We are confident. We know that we face a difficult task, but we are here to give the answer that we have to give. The feeling you get from representing this historic club is always there on the pitch. In these games, going all out from the off can be harmful.
Sergio Conceicao, Porto Manager
Betting Odds
Prediction
Chelsea are certainly the better side here and they have an excellent defensive record under Tuchel. They should be able to contain the Porto attack without any problems.
The Blues have an injury-free squad right now and the German manager will be able to field his strongest lineup against Porto.
This could be a close contest but the Blues are likely to pick up their third successive victory in Seville.
Chelsea 1-0 Porto
